Associate Architect Responsibilities

Designing and building architectures is impossible without the contribution of associate architect. No matter how skilled and experienced an architect is, he cannot perform all the tasks in the office. He thus employs an associate architect who provides him additional administrative support and expertise for every project.

An associate architect is in charge of handling various projects and report about the progress in work to the lead architect. He is actively involved in each project right from inception till execution and handling over the project to the clients. Designing architectures is something that requires lot of knowledge, patience, technical expertise and creativity which an associate architect brings in along with his experience.

An associate architect must follow the industrial practices and organizational policies while executing a project. He will have to supervise the junior staff and train them if they are facing difficulties at any phase during the project. He has to check whether all the switchboards, equipments, appliances, etc., are installed properly and are safe to use.

During the whole process, the associate architect has to meet and communicate with a lot of people. He is expected to keep a track of all the activities related with the project and contact details of vendors and temporary staff for future reference.

Below is a detailed description of associate architect responsibilities that explains how these professionals manage various tasks at work.

Attend Client Meetings

• The associate architect normally schedules and attends client meetings with the senior or chief architect. It helps him to understand the preference and requirements of the client.
• He has to provide his opinion and suggestions to the clients and/or the senior architect.
• He acts as the representative of the firm and takes decisions in the absence of senior architect.

Design Blueprints and Obtain Clearance

• The associate architect helps to design the blueprints for all the projects undertaken by the firm.
• He draws the blueprints onto digital applications and circulates the same for reference to all the members involved in the project.
• He presents the designs to local authorities and obtains clearances for the project.

Monitor Project and Personnel

• The associate architect has to visit the sites regularly to verify that the layouts and dimensions are in accordance with the design blueprints.
• He has to supervise the work of personnel at the site and provide necessary support and information as required.
• He has to check whether all the installations are performed properly and they are safe for the public to use.
• He has to keep a track of all the activities on a daily basis and maintain records of personnel working on an ad-hoc basis.

Procure and Disburse Materials and Equipments

• The associate architect himself purchases or assigns a junior staff to place orders to the vendors.
• He checks the quality of the materials and equipments so procured and if found suitable, disburses among the engineers and other staff involved in construction.

Skills of an Associate Architect

As an associate architect, you are expected to have sound knowledge of architectural design and engineering and how to apply it creatively for various projects. You must know how to manage various tasks and personnel and completing projects within the assigned budget and deadline. Technical skills such as using AutoCAD and other applications used in architectural designing.

Becoming an Associate Architect

To become an associate architect, you need to be experienced in architectural planning and designing. A bachelor's or master's degree in architectural design or a related field will suffice employer's criteria for educational qualifications.

Career Scope for Associate Architect

An associate architect can easily earn an annual salary of $80,000 to $1,20,000 or more depending on his qualifications and previous track record. Individuals who are able to prove their competency can move to senior positions in their career.

Associate architect responsibilities explain not just the duties, but the necessary requirements in terms of skills and education for this job.